Blinking amber power light pc will not turn on replaced power supply

Out of Dell's Dimension 2400 User Guide, the 2350 user guide doesn't list it;

"If The Power Light Is Blinking Amber - A device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed

1) Remove and reinstall the Memory modules."


From me;
Ram memory modules. Slang? Ram memory stick.
I would suggest cleaning the gold plated contact pins, on the bottom of all ram memory modules, then reinstalling.

Use a pencil eraser.
If using the eraser on the end of the pencil, and not a solid eraser, refrain from touching the gold plated contact pins with the metal band.


Handle the ram memory module by the Body of the module. Refrain from touching the contact pins.

[ The Body is everywhere but the contact pins themselves. The body of the module is coated with a see-through protective plastic,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Generic_DDR_Memory_%28Xytram%29.jpg

{ The Dimension 2350 Desktop PC uses DDR Sdram ram memory, at 266MegaHertz. Or also stated as PC2100. The above example in the link for DDR Sdram above, just happens to be PC2100 ]

Rub each contact with the eraser, both sides. Doesn't take much to clean the surface.
{Doesn't take much 'corrosion' to make a bad contact, either }

Use air to remove the eraser dust.


" 2) Remove and reinstall any cards."

From me;
Cards being any adapter card OTHER than the graphics card. Any adapter cards in a PCI slot.
(For the Dimension 2350 )

"3) Remove and reinstall the graphics card, if applicable"

From me;
If applicable. Means IF there IS a graphics card installed.

Plus for the Dimension 2350, a graphics card will be installed in one of those three white PCI slots.

I have seen a PCI slot burn. I have also seen where the PCI slot was bad, but showed no outward visual signs of damage. Solution was to use a different, available PCI slot.
By the time this is all going on though, the board should be scrapped. (Mobo)

What do the Electrolytic Capacitors on the motherboard look like? Show any outward visual signs of failure?

http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/index.htm

Plus, just to be sure have you tested the voltages of the new Power Supply?

Isn't actually an accurate test, but if voltages alone aren't what they're supposed to be, the PSU is bad.
(Accurate test is the Power Supply is under a load, then the voltages are tested )

3.3 Volt power rail, (Orange wires), 5 Volt power rail, (Red wires), 12 Volt power rail, (Yellow wires)

Test with a multimeter set to DC voltage. (Function knob set to DC voltage. May be just a DC Voltage symbol. Dotted line over solid line. If there is more than one setting, set it to the 0-50 Volt scale )
An economical multimeter can be purchased for around $6 to $12.

Bad power supply's do get shipped. Doesn't matter if a power supply is new, it can be bad.

Power Supply power cables unplugged from motherboard, (And laid aside so that they are Not near any hardware components ), turn the Power Supply on. See if it at least stays on by itself.

[ Jumper to back of the 20-pin ATX main power cable connector. From Green wire socket hole, (Soft Power On wire), to ANY Black wire socket hole. ( ALL Black wires are Ground wires )

Make SURE the jumper wire goes down into the two socket holes, far enough down to touch the metal terminal connector, at the end of that wire.
Preferred jumper wire is a straightened out paper clip, bent into a U-shape, and the middle of the U-shape is wrapped with black plastic electrical tape.

But you probably know this, as you had to test whether the problem was the Power On switch, (ATX power on switch), or the Power Supply, before purchasing a new power supply.
{Or did you?}


No to all of the above? Power supply checks out?

Start removing Peripheral hardware components.
Optical drive/s first.
(Computer unplugged from power, Anti-Static Precautions observed )

Then the harddrive. You are just trying to see if the power supply will come on, and stay on, for now.

Ram memory.

If the power supply comes on, and stays on with a particular peripheral device removed, stop.
There is the problem.

For additional questions post in a Comment

Regards,
joecoolvette